Dean, Lead Educator
Kaustubha Das makes the teachings and practices of yoga approachable and relevant. He is the Senior Educator at The Bhakti Center in New York City and co-hosts the Wisdom of the Sages yoga podcast, which has ranked #1 worldwide on Apple Podcasts in the Religion & Spirituality category. Between the ages of 21 and 34 he lived as a Vaishnava monk, traveling and studying in ashrams in India and America. He teaches bhakti-yoga philosophy and meditation, which he has practiced for over 30 years in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
Educator
Vasudeva Das, originally from the Netherlands, began his bhakti journey in 1997. Since then, he has lived as a monk for 16 years in various ashrams in India and Europe, practicing bhakti-yoga intensively and studying Sanskrit and Vedic bhakti texts such as the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. He received initiation in the bhakti lineage of Sri Caitanya in 2003 from his guru, HH Kadamba Kanana Swami. In 2016 he earned a BA in Vaishnava Bhakti Theology with honors from the University of Chester, UK. Vasudeva currently lives with his wife in the East Village, New York City, where he serves as the head priest and senior educator at the Bhakti Center. As a Sanskrit scholar, he is involved in several translation projects and tutors individual students. Vausdeva’s main aspiration, however, is to serve Krishna (God) and his devotees with a selfless, humble heart.
Project Manager
I first met the devotees in New York in the early 90s at a home program, and that's when my heart began to learn the value of authentic, loving relationships. I am a mother and an elementary school teacher in New York. As family responsibilities have lessened, I've begun seeking more opportunities for service in Bhakti communities where I can develop and deepen nurturing relationships. My dear teacher says, "Community is so important; it serves your needs better than you can serve yourself." Community and relationships support me on my path in ways that aren't possible alone. I am grateful for this community and look forward to learning with and from so many sincere souls.
